Training for better control of fishing

Officers follow long tradition of training for better control of fishing

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, FRIDAY 2 JULY: Nine fisheries and compliance officers from Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa, this week completed a course on monitoring, control and surveillance of illegal fishing today, following a long tradition of education for Pacific Island fisheries and law enforcement staff.

The Week 5 Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Component of the National Fisheries Officers’ Surveillance Course closed today in Honiara at the FFA Conference Centre. This is the final week in the 5-week course, the rest of the course being conducted at the Australian Maritime College which celebrates its 30th anniversary this week.

The Course is an annual event funded by the Australian Department of Defence and taught by staff of the Australian Maritime College and the FFA. The course is aimed at developing expertise and capacity of national officers responsible for monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing in the region.

At FFA, the officers learnt more about regional and subregional agreements, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), the upcoming Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance Strategy, fisheries observer programmes, fisheries compliance issues, the FFA Vessel Monitoring System and surveillance exercises. A total of 168 staff from Pacific Island countries maritime police and fisheries have completed the course from 1995 to 2010.

AMC has a long history with the region in terms of maritime related disciplines, education and trainings; including training Pacific Islands nationals now involved in fisheries management and development, maritime management, navigation, marine engineering and naval architecture.

One of their graduates is the current Director General of FFA, Su’a N. F. Tanielu. He said: “FFA would like to congratulate Pacific Island students who are awarded their certificates for the National Fisheries Officers’ Surveillance Course today. I remember well my studies at AMC and hope you will use your education to achieve many successes in control of fisheries in your countries. Your graduation today is another step on the long journey FFA has taken with the Australian Maritime College to build capacity and enhancement of skills of Pacific Islanders to control their fisheries. On behalf of all the College’s Pacific Island students and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, let me say thank you and congratulations to the Australian Maritime College for its 30 years of achievements and wish them another successful 30 years to come.”

The course coordinator, Nick Rawlinson, who has been a Lecturer with the AMC for 12 years and worked for the Solomon Islands fisheries department in the 1980’s, thanked everyone for their support and participation in the course and for their congratulations for the AMC’s 30th anniversary. He said “The course participants have worked hard during the last 5 weeks and I hope that their new skills can be put to effective use on the return to their countries. The FFA has once again been excellent hosts and the course has benefitted greatly from the input of their experienced staff”. With regards to the Australian Maritime College’s 30th anniversary, Nick added: “I am looking forward to exchanging stories with former students of the AMC, who are resident in Solomon Islands, this weekend, and I encourage them all to stay in touch with AMC by becoming involved in the new alumni organization.”

ENDS

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